Don Zino watched the warehouse with a look of disdain as he smoked on his cigar and examined the space. Salvetti wanted all the victims, blood, and rats to be cleared out from the scene as soon as possible. However, he was required to hold off for the time being.He looked at Lanaya with great concentration. Since he stepped foot in the room, he had not taken his eyes off her. She was completely unaware of the identity of the person sitting next to her. Why exactly was he helping her out in the first place?There was a time when Don Zino read some of Dante's works. I instructed the young man to "sit down, youngster" when I saw him.Dante grimaced but yet started looking for a place to sit. Because of the blood and debris, his white suit was already soiled, so it would have been pointless for him to sit in the mud.Don Zino released a heavy sigh, then lifted his arm to draw his weapon. While doing so, he shot Dante in the knee and said, "Sit down, child!"Dante wailed in pain as he crum
In a little coffee shop on the outskirts of Palermo, Mattheo was conversing with his daughter as they sat opposite each other. Lanaya was adamant about sampling every dish Italy's food had to offer, and she was more than glad to take everyone else along with her on her mission. Elisabetta was gently given a slice of tiramisu while sitting on Doc's lap as the two sat side by side. Dimitri was standing opposite Mattheo, busily tapping his phone.Salvetti took a spoonful of Panna Cotta and presented it to his wife, who immediately let out a delighted groan after taking a bite.Even though Mattheo would never acknowledge it to Salvetti, he was really pleased for the couple. It was clear that the two youngsters were head over heels in love with one another. Lanaya was beaming with joy as he led her down the "aisle," which was actually simply a path through the Vineyard, as he led her down the route. Her love-filled smile gleamed brighter than the sun, and her green eyes sparkled in the sun
As she lay in her foster parents' house, Lanaya breathed a painful sigh. She feared she had broken a few ribs, but she couldn't be more certain. As time passed, the number of injuries Lanaya sustained daily became too many to keep track of.Coughing, she spat a mouthful of blood on the floor. "What a fucking scumbag!" The man thrust his fingers into her hair and yanked her forcibly backward. "You fucking whore! You're bleeding on my floor!" She fell to the ground after receiving a heavy kick to the stomach from her foster father. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her across the floor while she screamed in pain because of a severe ache in her wrist.When Lanaya saw her foster mother sitting on the couch and pouring herself a glass of red wine, her head slammed into the coffee table. With her brow furrowed, she stepped forward, only to smack the bottle of red wine into Lanaya's face.She fell back, her vision blurred by the wine and whatever made her sweat. A darker red than wine g
She opened her eyes to an awful white light and gasped in pain as she realized what was happening. She was surrounded by people staring at her, caressing her, and even hugging her.Stop rubbing my thigh! Every touch physically burnt her skin, and she began to convulse.Suddenly, someone was right before her, so she yanked her chin back."Calm down, Lanaya," he tells her. The order slashed through the air.The effect on her body was immediate, no matter how small the room she was in. She ceased her struggle and lay motionless on the ground. She turned her head to meet the Devil's icy, harsh gaze.Oh my God!After yet another fight, she began to choke on her vomit. She gritted her teeth and kept her mouth shut to avoid drawing attention. The Devil's attention quickly shifted from her to another target, and he pinned them with his angry look.Why is she so depressed? His singing voice was sophisticated and silky, and it was really lovely. Similar to the voice of the Devil."She has a lot
Lanaya got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to shower.Anyone could tell immediately that she wasn't in a hospital but rather in an enormous mansion. Probably a mansion. Dropping her towel and standing in front of her closet's floor-to-ceiling mirror, Lanaya did something she'd sworn herself she'd never do again.She had a few stitches right below her hairline, but other than that, her face was perfectly unharmed. She had not washed her hair or face. What I saw of her was a whole other tale. Staring at the purple bruise covering her clavicle and hipbone was uncomfortable.Every breath she took hurt her ribs, but she was protected from the elements by a thick layer of waterproof gauze.Lanaya had her suspicions that she had a few cracked or broken ribs, but she couldn't tell for sure because of the gauze. Scabs had formed on her right elbow and left forearm. They itched like crazy. In addition to the purple welts on her feet, her knee and calves appeared exactly like her ms
It was a quick trip back to the mansion because Salvetti disregarded all traffic laws and speed limits. When Salvetti eventually dropped by, Travis was waiting for him outside the front door.Found her? That's what he insisted on hearing, after all. Travis gave a disapproving shake of his head. So then, "why the hell are you here?"Travis didn't bat an eye; his fortitude was impressive. He was completely loyal, but he was also within his rights to question Salvetto's directives if he saw fit. That's why, while Salvetti was away, Travis was entrusted with Lanaya's safety.You have a greater understanding of her than I do. And Travis's response was.The Italian sighs and Salvetti is no exception. Exactly, he was right. The truth was that he had a greater understanding of her.Maybe I can tell you where she is. He said this as he made his way to the house's rear. A small space between the Peony and the roses in the backyard served as his secret hideout ever since he was a kid.No one cou
CHAPTER FOURWhen Lanaya woke up, the room was completely pitch black. She found herself in the same room where she had awakened before, but the curtains were closed this time. The only illumination source was the bathroom, and even it wasn't sufficient to fully illuminate the bedroom.The confusion overcame her as she heard the water running in the bathroom. Lanaya could make out a tall beautiful figure in a suit.She swallowed nervously, then quickly laid her head back on the pillow as her neck started Exactly what was the man doing in her stall?Her skin tingled, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on edge when she smelled cedar and pine in the air.Lanaya had a hunch that the Devil was lurking in her toilet.Why wasn't it enough that he tracked her down in her isolated state, melted her defenses with stories of eerily familiar times, and touched her flesh? Did he see her collapse and then have to physically move her to her bed? When she woke up, he treated her like a peb
Salvetti cocked his head to one side as he tiptoed silently down the hall. A persistent crick in his neck prevented him from giving his all in his battle with Brian. He laughed at the idea. When Salvetti started pounding the crap out of him, Brian curled up into a ball to defend himself.He sighed and walked up the stairs to the space between his floor and Lanaya's. The space he had picked out for her was adjacent to his own.Perhaps he was a pervert for wanting her close, but he knew that if she slept in his bed, he would inevitably mishandle her in her sleep. Or maybe she had a bad dream about him molesting her.When around Lanaya, Salvetti is always so calm that he can't hurt a flyHe was about to enter his bedroom when he stopped halfway through removing his cufflinks. Lanaya was found seated at the end of the hall on the window seat, gazing out at the garden. Even though it was already 2 AM, she was wide awake. That was not something that usually happened.Salvetti had read every